HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-03-22-HSC-min.pdf Human Services Committee
Minutes of the Meeting of March 22, 1982
Present Steve Baran, Roberta Black, Howard Reynolds, Nancy Zarle, Ilene White,
Judy Zabin, Ruth Nablo also Bea Phear
The Minutes of March 8 were approved as mailed
Committee members distributed and discussed drafts for the interim report to the
Selectmen The results of those are attached and merged with these minutes
There was discussion about whether this report would be distributed to Town
Meeting It was decided that that will be mentioned to Jim Crain, however it
is the Selectmen's dicision to make
Bea reported that at the staff meeting that morning, the Manager had requested
that staff inform their committees that it is the committee's reponsibility to
communicate with the Selectmen and to gather information they might need, rather
than the Selectmen's task to keep committees informed By implication, it then
becomes staff responsibility to keep everyone informed Steve suggested communication
as a future area for brainstorming
**** Next Meeting Monday, March 29, 7 30 pm, room 111
( There will be no committee meeting on April 5, the first day of Town Meeting
Respectfully Submitted,
t=CT's • .
Beatrice Phear f4
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TO The Board of Selectmen
FROM. The Human Services Committee
DATE March 26, 1982
The Human Services Committee has held ten full committee meetings since convening
in December, 1981 Additionally, the Committee has divided into small sub-committees
to evaluate and monitor programs of agencies that use Town funds
On January 18, 1982 we presented a preliminary oral report to the Board of Selectmen
focusing on six service areas All !agencies !are facing cuts in federal-and state
heightens the difficulty of making choices for the Selectmen We are pleased to
submit this updated report for you consideration.
RePlace (Roberta Black and Judy Zabin)
RePlace continues to provide a variety of excellent counseling and support services
to Lexington young people and their families This is a highly utilized agency,
strongly emphasizing prevention in its drop-in center, telephone response, street
work, education and emergency housing
Progress during the past months includes a new understanding supporting the payment
to RePlace by the School Department for services provided to students and staff A
contract has beer signed whereby the schools will reimburse RePlace for counseling
services at the rate of $20 per hour through June 1, with expectations of $30 per
hour in Fiscal Year 1983 In addition, RePlace and the schools are discussing areas
already in the education budget for which RePlace could also be compensated, including
testing and consultation. It is hoped that this new relationship with the Schools
may result in new revenue of $500-$1,000
The RePlace Board of Directors has been very active in fundraising Activities are
a raffle ($120 sold to date) , a Walkathon scheduled for May 16, and a Dance on May 21
The finance drive letters will go to targetted business and industry people on the
first of April, and other letters will go to past contributors on April 15
The Hancock Church minister and staff have high praise for RePlace staff RePlace
Board and staff will be meeting with Ron Wells and the Lexington Youth Commission
on April 27 so that both groups serving young people can coordinate their activities
The Human Services Committee applauds them for their cooperation with other groups
and dedication to searching for outside funds However we are concerned with staff
burnout The funding provided by the Town plus these other sources will be just
sufficient to maintain the status quo and reduce the current $6,000 deficit, however
they will not be able to hire a new person to run the drop-in program and the closely
linked volunteer program These programs are preventative in nature and can detect
incipient problems which can be identified early in this informal setting
In light of the Safehouse closing, we also want to point out that RePlace maintains
a network of families to provide short term emergency shelter Bill Blout is also
exploring alternatives with Burlington and Waltham
Recommended We support the fullest funding possible for Replace
'stic Valley (Stan Finkelstein, Tom Zarle)
The Human Services Committee continues to endorse a ten thousand dollare appropriation
from the Town of Lexington to Mystic Valley Mental Health Center Association, Inc
t is the opinion of this committee that the residents of the Town derive multiple
benefits from the diverse array of services provided by this agency
Committee had recommended in January that a contract be drawn up that designated
Safehouse as the program within Mystic Valley that the Town would fund and monitor
ecaase of the closing of Safehouse, the Committee is working with Mystic Valley to
develop one or more alternate contracts At this time we have not yet identified
the specific target program The Town has adopted a preventative human services
policy In view of that the Committee is considering a recommendation to evaluate
and monitor an early intervention program Mystic Valley has proposed that we fund
their crisis intervention program, and we are considering monitoring that as well
.e expect to continue to meet with Mystic Valley regularly to design an alternate
contract by June
In addition to discussions with the agency staff and Lexington Board members, the
sub-committee plans to meet with the executive committee of the Board We have
also been active with the Mystic Valley neighborhood on a number of issues
Recommended Funding $10,000
CMARC (Ruth Nablo)
Central Middlesex Association for Retarded Citizens continues as last year to
==-r1 represent its pre-vocational and vocational programs through quarterly
__sorting and the agency fully responds in relation to the criteria for good services
as outlined by last year's Human Services Committee The money previously appropriated
for the support of a Contract Procurement Officer has been well spent, since ample
contracts have been obtained It had been the understanding of the Selectmen that
_=_ARC was well launched and would not be in need of funding this year
'or FY83, $5,000 was requested for new admissions from Lexington In January 1982,
this information had not been confirmed, and the Committee recommended that there be
no appropriation. However we have since been notified that the Area Office of The
Department of Mental Health has identified at least five mentally retarded adults
rho are in need of day programs It is likely that some of these wl1 be placed in
CMARC in addition to the six Lexington residents now being served CMARC does have
the physical capacity to take new clients
The Human Services Committee recommends renewing the contract for fiscal year 1983
rather than focus on funding clients This would enhance the program at CMARC at
a time when industrial contracts are gaining in importance for their funding by
targetting our money to the salary of the full time procurement worker
recommended Funding $5 000
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Council on Aging (Howard Reynolds, Ilene White, Nancy Zarle)
( The Human Services Committee endorses the recommendation of the Board of Selectmen
for the appropriated $43,884 for the Council on Aging for fiscal year 1983
=n -ak_ng this recommendation we would make note of the fact that the Board should
be aware of the potential cut in federal funding for Senior Aides, as it will impact
on the :eal Site program and Outreach Work at the CoA These two programs are
run m- Senior Aides funded through Minuteman Home Care Corporation, each of whom
;orks 20 hours a week at the Lexington Council on Aging under the direction of
Joan Melcher We feel these two very important services for the elderly should
continue, and, if necessary, support from the Town should be considered essential
The Human Services Committee is hoping to be able to work with the Council on
Aging and the designated developer as plans for the Muzzey School evolve
Recommended Funding $43,884
Chair Car
The Human Services Committee has been in close communication with the Chair Car
committee and supports the concept of Lexington purchasing time from Minuteman
Home Care Corporation for use of this handicap van service as a demonstration
The Committee believes it is a worthwhile service, providing transportation for
( indi Tidtials who are ineligible for Minuteman's regular program These include
t=ocb-, :he are over-income, who need trips other than medical , and who are under
age 60 We plan to monitor the use of the chair car in order to learn if it is
meeting a real need
Recommended. Funding $5000
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( inO re CENTRAL MIDDLESEX ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS, INC.
Two Sixth Road
Woburn, MA 01801
(617) 935-7057
January 8, 1982
Lexington Board of Health
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington, MA 02173
To Whom It May Concern
A 4b of Clients employed at CMARC for October, 1981 - 56
November, 1981 - 57
December, 1981 - 58
# of Clients served from Lexington
for October, - 5
November, - 5
December, - 5
B 56 Clients funded in October, 1981
57 Clients funded in November, 1981
58-Clients funded in December, 1981
with 8 funding agencies
C. Direct Services Ratio, 1 9 for October and November
1 8 for December, 1981
D 14 Outside Contracts for Oct , 12 for November, 12 for December
E Income from Outside Contracts - $ 5,091 77 for October
6,092 93 for November
8,118 52 for December, 1981
F Average weekly Client payroll was $794.43 for last quarter of
1981
Serving Lexington, Arlington, Woburn, Wilmington, Winchester